The Speedway Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Speedway Podcast
Mike Bacon and Andy Warren are joined by special guests to take a look at the Ipswich Witches and the world of British speedway.
Ipswich Witches team boss Ritchie Hawkins tells of his hopes for the Suffolk side in 2022, and casts an eye on some of his team's opposition.
Mike Bacon is joined by Ipswich Witches promoter Chris Louis as they look ahead to the start of the new 2022 speedway season and much more!
Including Louis' thoughts on:
A 6-team Premiership
Being a BSPA director
Top stars returning
Doubling-up... But for how long?
The Witches 2022... and much more
Join host MIKE BACON with his guests as they look ahead to the start of the new speedway season.
His two guests being Witches presenter KEVIN LONG and start marshall PETE INGRAM.
The three of them discuss all the things they are looking forward to this season, as well as an inside look at what it takes to be a start marshall and presenter.
PLUS
We take a look at some of the other Premiership teams
Give our views on the Witches 2021
We find out some of Kevin's favourite riders and moments
We find out who Pete has most trouble with at the starting gate!
Join Ipswich Witches team boss Ritchie Hawkins and skipper Danny King, as they look ahead to the 2021 season, with Mike Bacon.
The talk goes from beating King's Lynn in the opening clash to why Ritchie hasn't as yet had a hair cut.
Plus, the strength of the Witches, the thoughts of fans coming back and the one thing the pair are looking forward to most come opening night at Foxhall on May 20
Join host MIKE BACON as he speaks to one of the sport's most popular English riders, LEWIS KERR.
From Lewis' early motocross days, to live on the shale, join him on his journey to the speedway world he now so loves.
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Enjoying the American dream.
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Motocross at first.
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Gobbled up by King's Lynn.
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Doubling up and enjoying the tracks.
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Could the best be still to come.
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Why it didn't work out at Ipswich.
PLUS....
His horrendous track crash at Peterborough and what it took to come back.
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Hopes for 2021 after 2020 Lockdown.
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His views on the likes of Crump back in British speedway.
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His best ever season on the south coast.
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Favourite tracks, drinks and holidays!
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And how long does he plan to keep going?
In this one-hour special podcast, 2020 British Champion RORY SCHLEIN chats to MIKE BACON about his speedway career - the highs, the lows and the very dark days.
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Growing up in the Northern Territory
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Why he got the name 'Roo Boy'
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The shock of his first racing in the UK
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Coventry at the treble
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My hardest opponents
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The darks days when I thought it was all over
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One of my happiest seasons
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Police escorts to meetings!
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Being British Champion
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My biggest regret
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Family, the future for me, the future for speedway
And much, much more.
Listen to Rory talk with passion about the sport he loves so much.
A fantastic listen to a fascinating rider who came to Britain in 2001 to follows his dreams.... dreams and joys he indeed found.
Join host MIKE BACON with guests, Ipswich promoter CHRIS LOUIS and Witches rider CAMERON HEEPS, as they discuss the 2020 British Final
Who their favourites are, riders to watch, dark horses.
In a year that has seen speedway decimated, it's nice to have something to talk about!
But who do they think will lift the British Championship title come 10pm on Saturday night?
Join host MIKE BACON as he speaks to 3x World Champion JASON CRUMP in this fascinating podcast.
One of the speedway's true legends, Crump opens up about his life in speedway and his subsequent return to the track this season.
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3 world titles, but something else meant more
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Early day fun and games at Peterborough
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My happiest days, before it got serious
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Coping with the pressure of a famous racing father
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Why riding in England was so important... And still is
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Those world title days
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Mr Consistent
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Yes, I'd change a some things if I could go back
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Why I loved the British GPs
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Golden Helmet fun in the Czech Republic
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Handlebar to handlebar with two of the safest... but who?
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Dust-ups with a few!
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Coming back to England in 2020 with Ipswich
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Will he be back next season......?
PLUS
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One team boss Hawkins to another team boss Hawkins
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Fav tracks, least fav, toughest opponents and of course... Fav pizza topping
Join host MIKE BACON as he chats to Danish star Nicolai Klindt about his life on the shale.
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Where it all began
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Life in England
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Had to be Wolves
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Sacked, sacked and sacked again!
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Big beard man
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A young Danish champ
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So close to quitting
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Not always such a fast starter!
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Surprise at not being a Pirate
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All over Europe, what it takes
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Crump and Pedersen back!
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My Ipswich Witches hopes
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How to improve the sport
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How much has been ploughed into Klindt 2020
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Making it into the GPs?
And much, much more.
Join Mike and Nicolai for this hour-long special at how it all started for the Dane and where he is still hoping for it all to go.
Join host MIKE BACON as he chats to one of speedway's brightest and talented young stars..... DREW KEMP.
'Gating for the stars'.... In his own words, teenager Drew tells of his start in motor sport, the highs and lows he has already experienced in speedway. As well as his latest experience Down Under touring with GB.
His love of Ipswich Witches and his dream to ride for them, why he has turned to a sports psychologist for help - and where he wants to take his career.
Plus.... pass him a pizza... Don't think so. Find out why that is - and much more....
It's a fascinating insight into this young rider-
Including:-
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It was always bikes at school!
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Family, family, family
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That first year at Mildenhall
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Upset and pain at Sheffield
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British U19 champion. The pressure!
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The Poultec way
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Why he turned to sports psychology
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Favourite ever rider. Favourite tracks
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Down Under with Tai and the boys
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Eastbourne here he comes
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The goals he has set for this year... And beyond
And much more.....
Join host MIKE BACON and guests as they talk speedway at Ipswich Witches over the last 10 years..... and longer!
Joining Mike are loyal fans, Pete Ingram, Emma Punchard, Kevin Long and Robert Mutimer, all of whom have watched the Witches over the last decade.... and longer!
Find out their thoughts on...
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The Witches Team of the Decade - and why
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Which riders do they wish had been a Witch?
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Outstanding memories over the last 10 years
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Last season... And hopes for the season ahead
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Favourite other tracks
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Manager of the decade and most importantly....
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Pizza toppings, Corrie or EastEnders and much more in this one-hour special
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Join host MIKE BACON as he chats to former Ipswich Witch and Reading Racer .... JEREMY DONCASTER.
'The Donk' was once described by multi-world champion Jason Crump as 'one of best riders of his era'..... And what an era it was....
Listen as Jem takes you though his life in the sport, from the grass to the shale and plenty of longtrack in between. And so much more....
PLUS++++
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His special friendship with the great Simon Wigg
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Winning the double with both the Witches and Racers... The secret was....?
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Why he was such a fast starter
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American fever in the 80s
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Why he never won the British title
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The joy of two Golden Helmet victories
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Why the art of team-riding has gone
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Best promoters, best team-mates and being one of two 5-1 'king' pairings
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Thoughts on the sport - and riders today
AND MUCH MORE.....
In this one-hour special, we hear how Jem was persuaded to join the Witches, his first-ever competitive meeting that saw him not complete a lap!
Commowealth titles, Overseas titles, third in the world, European grasstrack champion..... And the night Ipswich promoter John Berry exploded at his team-mate John Cook when the pair looked set to win the KO Cup for the Witches!
With the Witches versus Robins play-offs in sight, one promoter, one fan and one journalist got together to discuss the big meeting ahead.
So, join CHRIS LOUIS, ROBERT MUTIMER (a Witches fan who did not miss a meeting in 2019), and MIKE BACON for a chat and a look at the Premiership play-off final against Swindon.
Who do they think will win? And by how many?
Join host MIKE BACON for a wonderful speedway podcast with Ipswich Witches skipper Danny King and Witches team boss Ritchie Hawkins.
An open and insightful view into their lives as racers.... and their off-track close friendship.
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British title victories they both enjoyed
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The manager/rider relationship
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Injuries
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Ipswich through and through
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Favourite tracks, biggest influences
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The state of the sport today
And so much more, including why Britain should stage more Grand Prix, rider friendships, family values, father figures.
Join Witches promoter CHRIS LOUIS in conversation with MIKE BACON as they look back on a terrific league season for the Witches and look ahead to the exciting play-offs coming up.
Plus Chris' thoughts on riders, fans, the Premiership and what it all means for the future of the club.....
Join 7-time British Speedway Champion SCOTT NICHOLLS in a special one-off podcast with Mike Bacon as he looks back at a stunning career in the sport.
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Long track beginnings
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That 1998 Witches team
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All the fun of Brandon
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Highs, lows, best and worst tracks
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How the sport can improve
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Emil Sayfudinov, GPs and Cardiff
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Would he change anything?
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The future
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And those BT Sport shirts!
PLUS MUCH MORE, enjoy....
Join host MIKE BACON for a special podcast as he catches up with two of Britain's finest-ever speedway riders.
MARK LORAM and CHRIS LOUIS came through the sport together, both became World Champions, British Champions, Grand Prix stars, as well as gracing the tracks of Britain throughout their illustrious careers.
From their early days at Hackney together, through to how they see the sport today, Mark and Chris tell us all.
The pressure of racing in Poland, that Witches great team of 1998, favourite and least favourite tracks, bikes, today's riders and much, much more..... it's a look back and a look forward.
So, sit back and enjoy two of the sport's true racers in conversation.
Catch up with Ipswich Witches’ promoter Chris Louis and Aussie ace Cameron Heeps as they chat to MIKE BACON.
How has the start of the season gone for both promoter and rider?
Marks out of 10 for the Witches so far from Louis.
Cameron tells of the good camaraderie within the Witches camp.
At the start of a new season Ipswich Witches 2019 met up with host MIKE BACON for a special podcast.
So much to talk about, so much to catch up with.
Meet all of the Witches, as well as promoter Chris Louis and team boss Ritchie Hawkins.
And Foxhall presenter Kevin Long joins Mike to look back at seasons past… and look forward to the racing ahead.
Plenty of laughs abound!
Relax and enjoy with your Witches 2019